A state of emergency has been declared in Florida where evacuations are underway in low-lying areas as Tropical Storm Helene is expected to become a major hurricane before it makes landfall along the Gulf Coast.

Helene continued to steadily strengthen as it grazed the northeastern tip of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula Wednesday morning. The storm is on the cusp of becoming Hurricane Helene and is projected to deliver a devastating blow to Florida’s Gulf Coast tomorrow as a major hurricane.

The Gulf Coast is bracing for a major hurricane landfall late this week as Tropical Storm Helene is forecast to rapidly intensify into a Category 3 storm on a path for the Florida coast. Residents were already evacuating and filling sandbags Tuesday,